Ex-rep. Carron ordered to rehab

Thursday

Oct 4, 2012 at 6:00 AMOct 4, 2012 at 6:32 PM

By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Mark J. Carron, a former state representative from Southbridge, was ordered yesterday to serve 6 months of a 2-year jail sentence after being found guilty of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Mr. Carron, 50, of 143 Chapin St., Southbridge, was arrested on the charge Feb. 2 after Auburn police said they found him asleep in his car about 2 a.m. on Tinker Hill Road. Police said they had to bang on the window of the car several times to wake Mr. Carron and that he had his foot on the brake and the car was in gear.

Police said he failed several field sobriety tests.

Mr. Carron was found guilty of the charge after a jury trial in Central District Court.

Police said at the time of his arrest that Mr. Carron had three prior drunken-driving convictions, and he was charged with his fourth offense.

After being found guilty yesterday, Mr. Carron waived his right to a separate jury trial on the subsequent offender portion of the case and admitted to two prior drunken-driving convictions, one in 1987 and the other in 1991.

Judge Charles Groce III sentenced Mr. Carron to 2 years in the House of Correction, with 6 months to be served. The judge suspended the balance of the sentence for 2 years with probation.

As conditions of probation, Mr. Carron was ordered to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and any treatment deemed appropriate by the court, to attend four Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a week and to remain alcohol-free with random screens. The status of his driver’s license will be determined by the state Registry of Motor Vehicles.

As proposed by his lawyer, Michael H. Erlich, and Special Prosecutor Michael Russo, Judge Groce agreed to recommend that Mr. Carron serve the committed portion of his sentence at the Western Massachusetts Alcohol Rehabilitation Center in Springfield.

Mr. Carron represented the 6th Worcester District, which encompasses Charlton, East Brookfield, Southbridge and parts of Oxford and Spencer, from 1999 until January 2006.